Pocket automatic electric lighter



Jan. 18, 1949. D. .1. KIRSCHNER POCKET AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1946 Jan. 18, 1949.

D. J. KIRSCHNER 2,459,656 POCKET AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed Aug. 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. l8, 1949 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE POCKET AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHTER Donald Jack Kirschiier, Miami Beach, Fla. Application August 19, 1946, Serial No. 691,548

This invention consists of novel and advantageous improvements in a pocket automatic electric lighter and more explicitly pertains to an electric battery type of lighter having improved switch means automatically operable in an imcontacts are securely housed in the device; wherein the automatic operating means is additionally shielded from dirt by a casing; and wherein a positive and dependable switch action is obtained.

These, together with various auxiliary objects,

which will be later apparent as the following description proceeds, are realized by my invention, one embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only, in the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lighter in the closed position;

Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail in vertical section, taken substantially upon the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the lighter, shown in the open and operative position;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 5; and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of Figure 5.

In the attached drawings. wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, lli designates generally my improved lighter which may be formed of any suitable metal and shape, but is particularly adapted for use as a compact pocket type of lighter. The lighter consists of a container or receptacle l2 whose upper end is closed by a wall l4, below which is spaced a lateral partition l6, defining a chamber l8 therebetween. Below the partition I6 is a chamber for receiving a dry cell type of battery 22 of any desired type. The lower end of the casing I2 is closed by a detachable cover 24 having depending edges 2B,-notched to detachably engage a retaining rib 28 upon the inner surface of the casing I 2 A notch or slot 30 in the lower surface of an end wall of the casing i2 is 5 Claims. (Cl. 21932) adapted to receive the blade of a tool, indicated in dotted lines at 32 in Figure 5, which engages a lug 34 upon the cover 24, in order to remove the latter.

The battery 22 is preferably grounded to the casing i2 by means of contacts 36 upon the cover 24, and has its axial electrode contact 38 extending through an insulating bushing 39 in the partition l6, into the chamber [8. A pyramidal refractory support 40 is removably and replaceably secured upon the wall 14 as by a contact pin 42 which extends into chamber l5 and is axially aligned with but spaced from the contact 33, the contact and support being united as by screw threads 44 and insulating bushing 46. An electrical resistance wire has one end grounded lo the wall I l as at 50 and has its other end 52 extending through an axial bore in the support 40 into engagement with the contact pin The heating element is so shaped as to light not only cigarettes and cigars but also tobacco in pipe bowls, and the like.

In order to energize the heating element a switch element is provided in the chamber I 8. This element includes a slide 54 having rack teeth 56 upon the upper surface of metallic strips 53, and is guided between guide surfaces fill on the walls of compartment 18. At its forward end, slide 54 carries a hollow switch holder of insulation, while a pair of coil springs E i are seated between the rear surface of the holder 82 and the end wall of compartment l8 to urge the holder towards the contacts 38, 42. A contact member 66 is socketed in the hollow recess of holder 62 and is slidably retained therein by a pin 68 and slot 10, while a spring 12 yieldingly biases the switch element outwardly of the recess. The switch is so placed that upon actuation of the racks 56 by a means to be now described, the contact 66 is selectively advanced into electrical en gagement with contacts 38 and 42, thereby activating element 44, or subsequently retracting them to tie-energize the heater. t will be noted that the contacts 38, 42 and the switch mechanism are all protectively housed in compartment l 8.

A cover member 14 snugly fits upon the wall i 4 and casing l2 and houses the heater element, and is pivoted as at I6 to the casing 12. The pivot pin 16 has a pair of gears 18 rigidly secured thereto and extending through an aperture in wall l4 for continuous meshing engagement with racks 56. A. housing extends upwardly from wall [4 to enclose the gears 18 and is faired into a notch 82 at the pivoted end of the cover. A latch 84 is secured to the front end of the cover and is receivable in a slot esin wall [4 for latching engagement with a detent 38 on spring member 96'' secured to casing l2, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the partition IE is notched at 92 to permit movement of latch member 99, in response to pressure upon button 2 which is secured thereto and extends to the exterior of casing I2 through an opening 96.

The arrangement is such that when button 92 is depressed, releasing latch 88, springs 64 move racks 56 inwardly until switch member 68 completes the circuit through contacts 38, e2 thereby energizing the heater; at the same time, the

racks 5E rotate gears it andpivot pinlll, thereby opening the cover it. When the cover 14 is closed the reverse movement takes place, gears 78 causing the retraction of racks 56- and the breaking of the electrical circuit.

At a suitable location in chamber [8, I provide a vertical transverse partition ll constituting a sealing and closing member to prevent entry'of dirt, through the latch opening when the cover is open, into the mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric lighter including a container, a battery in said container, an electric ignition element mounted on said container, aligned and axially spaced. contacts on said ignition element and said battery, a switch member engageable with both of said spaced contacts, a cover for said ignition element hinged to said container, and direct connecting means between said cover andsaid switch for positively moving said switch into and out of engagement with said contacts upon movement of said cover, said connecting means including a pivot for said cover, a gear on said pivot and rotatable with said cover, and a rack in meshwith said gear and reciprocable thereby for actuating said switch.

2. An electric lighter including a container, a battery in said container, an electric ignition element mounted on. said container, aligned and axially spaced contacts on said ignition element and said battery, a switch member engageable with both of said spaced contacts, a cover for said ignition element hinged. to said container, and direct connecting means between said cover and said switch for positively moving said switch into and out of engagement with said contacts upon movement of said cover, and spring means for biasing said switch into engagement with said contacts and simultaneously biasing said cover into. open. position, said connecting means including a pivot for said cover, a gear on said pivot and rotatable with said cover, and a rack in mesh with said gear and reciprocable thereby for actuating said switch.

3. An electric lighter including a container, a battery in said container, an electric ignition element mounted on said container, aligned and axially spaced contacts on said ignition element and. said battery, a switch member. engageable with both of said spaced contacts, a cover for said ignition. element hinged to said container, and direct connecting means between said cover and said switch for positively moving said switch 4 into and out of engagement with said contacts upon movement of said cover, a first housing in said container for said battery, a second housing in said container for said switch, said battery contact and said ignition element contact extending into said second housing, said connecting means including a pivot for said cover, a gear on said pivot and rotatable with said cover, and a rack in mesh with said gear and reciprocable thereby for actuating said switch.

4. An electric lighter-including a container, a battery in said container, an electric ignition element mounted on said container, aligned and axially spaced contacts on said ignition element and said battery, a switch member engageable with both of said'spaced contacts, a cover for said ignition element hinged to said container, and direct connecting meansbetween said cover and said switch for positively moving said switch into and out of engagement with said contacts upon movement of said cover, a first housing in said container for said battery, a second housing in said container. for said switch, said battery contact and saidignition element contact extending into said second housing, said connecting means including a pivot for said cover, a gear on said pivot and rotatable with said cover, and a rack in mesh with said gear and reciprocable thereby for actuating said switch, said switch, member being resiliently mounted upon said rack.

5. An electric lighter including a container, a battery in said container, an electric ignition element mounted on said container, aligned and axially spaced contacts on said ignition element and said battery, a switch member engageable with both of said spaced contacts, a cover for said ignition element hinged to said container, and direct connecting means between said cover and said switch for positively moving said switch into and out of engagement with said contacts upon movement of said. cover, a first housing in said container for said battery, a secondhousing in said container for said switch, said battery contact and said ignition element contact eX- tending into said second housing, said connecting means including a pivot for saidcover, a pair of gears on said pivot and rotatable with said cover, and a rack means continuously in mesh with said gears and reciprocablethereby. for actuating said switch, said. gears extending into said second housing. and a third housing enclosing said gears and merging into. said cover when the latter is closed, said. switch member being resiliently mounted upon. said. rack means.

DONALD JACK KIRSCHNER.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in: the fileofthis patent: 

